The history of the world's most popular Pool Toy

Water Woggles

In 1986, Rick was a part time entrepreneur making Training Equipment and Supplies for Competitive Swimming Clubs across Ontario. That year he set in motion the design, development and marketing of a product that would forever change the excitement associated with swimming.

the Pull Buoy

Pull Buoys are a swim aid that assist in training the upper body by limiting a swimmers use of their legs while providing buoyancy.

One of the main components of a Pull Buoy were white polyethylene foam rods purchased in six foot lengths. These rods were cut into ten inch pieces and then paired by a piece a nylon rope.

Working out of his garage in 1986, it wasn't long before Rick was encouraging his children to play with the six foot lengths of poly foam in the backyard pool.

He immediately recognized the potential in marketing these white foam rods as a Pool Toy since nothing like it existed

The foam rods were a natural play toy in the water for children and adults alike.

There were three manufacturing companies in the region, all extruding white polyethylene foam for a variety of industrial applications. At that time, a three inch coloured extrusion of poly foam was not being produced.

a White Rod

Initial Designs

Serpent Head

the Final Product

a White Rod

Rick realized that prior to marketing the product, the White Rods needed an updated image that would set them apart in the marketplace.

Shaping the Image

Rick realized that prior to marketing the product, the White Rods needed an updated image that would set them apart in the marketplace.

There were three manufacturing companies in the region, all extruding white polyethylene foam for a variety of industrial applications. At that time, a three inch coloured extrusion of poly foam was not being produced.

Original design ideas of the Water Woggle involved coloured tape being applied to make stripes and patches on the original white rods.

Initial Designs

Original design ideas of the Water Woggle involved coloured tape being applied to make stripes and patches on the original white rods.

the Original Design

An established local Pool Retailer in Oakville was approached to test market the response generated by the New Pool Toy. Approximately fifty Water Woggles were displayed one Saturday morning and were sold out by the end of the day. The following weekend, a hundred samples were delivered with the same end result.

Prolonged use of the striped Water Woggle was resulting in tape separation and therefore the decision was made to produce Water Woggles in Solid Colours.

With great interest demonstrated at a local level, it was time to explore the potential of the Water Woggle in much larger markets.

the Serpent Head

Still motivated to shape the image of this New Pool Toy, Rick proposed and designed the addition of a serpent like head to be affixed atop the Water Woggle.

This idea proved to be short lived and was abandoned as the production costs associated with the head exceeded the retail target for the toy.

Water Woggles

A design of Solid Colour would prove to be its final form in the fall of 1987 as Water Woggles would enter the North American marketplace.

the Final Design

A Canadian company was contracted to complete the first pilot run of the Water Woggles.

The first order consisted of four Solid Coloured extruded polyethylene foam rods with a diameter of three inches.

Although the company initially reported difficulty in producing the coloured product as specified, they were eventually able to extrude Water Woggles to the uniform standard Rick Koster had envisioned.

Soon after, other manufacturers with the capability of extruding polyethylene foam began producing their own version of the Water Woggles. Rebranded by various manufacturers and distributors, there are dozens of names that exist for the products based upon the original Water Woggle. It is most commonly referred to as a

Pool Noodle

All companies producing versions of the Water Woggle continue to enjoy great success with Richard Koster's original creation.

News Articles and Links

The Toronto Star

In 2014, the Toronto Star published the following article on the History of the Pool Noodle.